Rep. Gail Armstrong

Maddy summaryHB 289 clarifies how New Mexico allocates transportation funding to school districts and state-chartered charter schools, requiring that funds cover the full route cost - including miles traveled to pick up the first student and return the bus after dropping off the last student. It establishes a new calculation method using a base amount for all districts plus a variable amount based on historical transportation costs, site characteristics, and operational days. If a district’s allocation exceeds required transportation costs, 50% of the excess must go to a transportation emergency fund, and at least 25% must be used for transportation services (excluding salaries). The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 281 requires owners of solar and wind energy facilities to provide financial assurance (like bonds or insurance) totaling at least $250,000 per facility to cover future decommissioning costs. This applies to all new facilities starting July 1, 2026, and existing facilities by January 1, 2028. The bill creates a Solar and Wind Decommissioning Fund, which collects forfeited financial assurance if owners fail to comply or if decommissioning costs exceed the provided amount. The fund is used by the state to cover cleanup costs when facilities are shut down, ensuring sites are properly remediated without relying on taxpayer funds.

Maddy summaryHB 346, introduced by Representative Gail Armstrong in New Mexico's 2026 legislative session, is a procedural bill with no substantive provisions detailed in the provided context. The bill's title ("PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY & WELFARE") is broad and does not specify any concrete policy changes or affected groups. Since the bill has only been referred to the House Rules and Order of Business Committee (with no print date or text provided), its specific mechanisms or impact cannot be determined from the available information. No concrete policy changes or affected stakeholders can be identified at this stage.

Maddy summaryHB 345 is a New Mexico state bill introduced in the 57th Legislature's second session of 2026 that relates to public peace, health, safety, and welfare. The bill was introduced by Representative Gail Armstrong but has not advanced through the legislative process, as it was not printed in the House Rules and Order of Business Committee on February 4, 2026, and its action was postponed indefinitely on March 24, 2026. Because the bill has not been printed or debated, its specific provisions, mechanisms, or intended effects remain unknown and cannot be described.

Maddy summaryThis bill does not appear to have any substantive provisions as it was postponed indefinitely on March 24, 2026, without being printed or further processed by the House Rules and Order of Business Committee. The bill's title indicates it relates to public peace, health, safety, and welfare, but no specific policy changes or affected parties are detailed in the available text. Since the legislation was not advanced beyond the committee stage, no concrete policy changes have been enacted or proposed.

Maddy summaryHB 288 appropriates $450,000 from the general fund to the New Mexico Cultural Affairs Department for the Historic Women Marker Program, to be spent over fiscal years 2026-2029. The funding expands the program’s implementation, which places markers commemorating significant New Mexico women in public spaces. Unspent funds by the end of 2029 will revert to the general fund. This bill directly affects the Cultural Affairs Department’s operations and honors women whose historical contributions are recognized through these markers.

Maddy summaryThis House Memorial (HM 37) requests New Mexico's Energy Department to study the costs of decommissioning solar and wind energy facilities and recommend financial assurance requirements for their owners. It directly affects solar/wind facility operators (who may need to cover removal and land restoration costs) and taxpayers (who could otherwise bear millions in unplanned expenses if facilities fail early). The study will evaluate decommissioning costs, compare state practices, and propose policies to prevent environmental harm or taxpayer burden. Currently, New Mexico lacks such requirements for renewables, despite a 2025 report warning of potential $974 million in unmet costs. The department must report findings by November 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 45, the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact, would allow physician assistants licensed in one participating state to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. It creates a shared data system for states to track license status and disciplinary actions, and requires that physician assistants follow the laws of the state where the patient is located during care. The bill directly affects physician assistants, particularly military families who can more easily practice across state lines with one license, and state licensing boards that must adopt the compact's standards. If enacted, it would streamline licensure for medical professionals while maintaining patient safety through mutual recognition of licenses.

Maddy summaryHB 83 requires New Mexico's Health Care Authority to set minimum Medicaid reimbursement rates for personal care services: $23.50 per hour for consumer-delegated care and $19.78 per hour for consumer-directed care. It mandates that personal care service agencies using Medicaid funds must spend at least 70% of the reimbursement on direct care worker costs, including wages, benefits, training, and supervision. The bill defines "direct care workforce expenditures" to cover all employee-related expenses and requires agencies to maintain records for audits. A $51.4 million appropriation from the general fund supports this fee schedule update for fiscal year 2027. This directly affects agencies providing Medicaid-covered personal care services to individuals needing assistance with daily living activities.

Maddy summarySB 67 establishes "the best interests of the child" as the primary and controlling standard for all judicial decisions and actions by the Children, Youth and Families Department in abuse and neglect cases. It amends the Children's Code to prioritize child safety above all else, requires courts to ensure guardians ad litem and child attorneys zealously represent the child's interests, and mandates written findings for all decisions. The bill clarifies definitions like "aggravated circumstances" (including severe abuse or criminal convictions involving children) and "aggravated physical neglect" to guide case determinations. This legislation directly affects children in abuse/neglect cases, courts, child welfare professionals, and legal representatives in New Mexico.